Walsall play out goalless draw with Wolves youngsters
Walsall were held to a goalless draw away at Wolves Under 23s as they stepped up their pre-season preparations.
The Saddlers created the better of the opportunities but couldn’t a way through against a stubborn Wolves side on the night.
Saddlers skipper James Clarke made his first appearance of pre-season after missing last Saturday’s defeat at Crewe Alexandra.
He featured in a defence alongside player-coach Mat Sadler, Callum Cockerill-Mollett and Joe Foulkes.
Sam Perry, Alfie Bates, Liam Kinsella, Wes McDonald, Jack Nolan and Caolan Lavery made up the rest of the starting XI.
Darrell Clarke’s side made a bright start and enjoyed the majority of the possession in the opening 15 minutes.
Walsall’s first meaningful effort on goal came through Jack Nolan on 22 minutes who tried to bend on in from the right but his shot was well held by the Wolves goalkeeper.
Wolves grew into the game and probably had the best chance of the half but were denied by a brilliant Liam Roberts save in a first half that saw little goalmouth action.
Clarke made three changes at half time as he introduced three trialists in place of Liam Roberts, James Clarke and Sam Perry.
The Saddlers created arguably their best chance of the game three minutes into the second half when Nolan whipped in a lovely free-kick towards the back post that was met by Trialist B at the back post but his header crept just wide.
Walsall made eight more changes just before the hour mark with Cameron Norman, Dan Scarr, Zak Jules, Jayden Campbell, Joe Willis, Stuart Sinclair, Rory Holden and Josh Gordon coming on in place of the remaining eight players from the starting XI.
Campbell caused Wolves plenty of problems down the left hand side in what was an impressive cameo.
It was Norman who came the closest for the Saddlers in the second half when his arrowed shot took a slight deflection that took it just wide of the post on 81 minutes and Walsall had to settle for a draw.
Meanwhile, another youthful Wolves side drew 1-1 against Coventry City earlier in the day at Lilleshall.
Cameron John scored for Wolves in the first half before Jordan Shipley levelled for the Sky Blues in the second.
